She shot him a rueful grin. “Yeah. Obviously. But there’s still something about being here…” She shook her head and the moment was gone. “Forget it. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
She shot him a sidelong look before letting out a sigh. He thought she might actually try to explain, but then Addison rushed into the foyer with a suit-clad Colton in tow.
“Hey, man, how’s your mom?” Colton asked as Addison and Vanessa disappeared into the women’s restroom with a flurry of whispers and laughter.
“She’ll be alright,” Trent said. Though as he said it, he felt a flicker of fear.
And then there was the guilt.
His mom had been sick often enough these past five years that he knew the emotional roller coaster well. The complicated swell of emotion… But that didn’t make it any easier.
“I know that look,” Colton said, crossing his arms as he studied Trent. “That’s the look you get when you’re about to be a martyr.”
“I’m not about to—”
“You’re thinking you shouldn’t have left your mom at the hospital, right?”
Trent clamped his mouth shut. That was exactly what he’d been thinking. “How do you do that?”
Colton shrugged. “No offense, pretty boy, but you’re kind of easy to read.”
Trent scowled at his friend who was eyeing the ladies’ room door like a hound dog. “You’re not exactly a great mystery either, loser.”
Colton shot him a look of surprise.
“Honestly, how long are you able to go without seeing your girlfriend before you start moping?”
“Shut up,” Colton muttered, but he wore a little smirk of amusement. “Besides, I could say the same thing about you.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Trent shot back. Maybe it was because of their high school rivalry but they couldn’t seem to go more than two minutes without reverting back to a childish mentality that involved more mockery than one might expect from two grown men.
“You don’t have a girlfriend…yet,” Colton said, his eyes lit with laughter at Trent’s expense. “Do you really think I haven’t noticed the way you look at her?” He nodded toward the bathroom where Vanessa had disappeared.
Trent didn’t try to deny it. Why would he? He’d been intrigued by Vanessa from the moment he’d set eyes on her. Now, if only she felt the same...
“Have you made your move yet?” Colton asked.
Trent scoffed. “No, I haven’t made my move.” He rolled his eyes. “If you haven’t noticed, I’ve had my hands full with this whole running for sheriff thing, and then there’s my mother in the hospital, and…” He let out a long sigh, the guilt that had been weighing on him making him grimace. “Maybe this isn’t the best time to be focusing on an election.”
“Excuse me?” Vanessa’s sharp tone behind him had him whipping around, but it wasn’t the sudden movement that had his head spinning.
“Nessa.” He said her nickname on a breath of air as it wooshed out of him.
He was rewarded with an arched brow and pursed lips. “It’s Vanessa. How many times do I have to tell you people that?”
He barely registered her words because he was still too stunned by the sight of her. She wasn’t just beautiful, she was exquisite. Long, sleek limbs and amazing curves—all of which was highlighted to perfection by a slinky, shimmering silver dress. Her hair had been pulled up into some sort of stylish ‘do that he’d be hard-pressed to describe other than it looked just messy enough that it brought to mind images of a tousled Vanessa first thing in the morning, but somehow the overall look was still glamorous and chic.
It was a mystery and an enigma—just like Vanessa.
Colton’s hand on his shoulder brought Trent back to the present. “I have no doubt that Trent here will be happy to apologize for the name slip-up just as soon as he manages to get his tongue back into his mouth.”
Addison laughed before grabbing Colton by the arm and leading him back toward the main ballroom where the music was still going strong. “Have fun, you two,” she called back.
“This isn’t about having fun,” Vanessa said, her tone dripping with jaded disdain that was so at odds with the warmth he’d seen in her earlier at the hospital and in the car. “This is work. Isn’t that right, Trent?”
Trent was…not able to speak. “Uh…”
Addison’s laughter filled the air just as the two of them disappeared into the other room.
Left alone, the silence between them grew heavy. For the life of him he had no idea how to break the quiet moment. He’d never once been at a loss for words. This was a first.
“Well?” Vanessa shifted from one foot to another. “Shall we?”
He had to clear his throat to make it work. “Let’s do this.”
He held out his arm and she linked her arm through it, flashing him a curious look. “What were you and Colton talking about just now?” She frowned at his hesitation. “Trent?”
They walked through the swinging doors and the volume of the music intensified. They were noticed. Eyes swung in their direction and Trent had to resist the urge to bolt. He’d never been shy, and he knew how to work a room, but right now…the conversation he needed to have with Vanessa—
The conversation he wanted to have with her.
He resented this crowd around them, and outright hated the looks of appreciation on the male faces as they caught sight of his date.
His campaign manager, not his date. Not his real date, anyway.
She stopped and turned to him, not seeming to mind the stares, if she even noticed. Her dark eyes were fixed on him as though she could peer right through him. “Trent,” she said again, her voice slow and modulated. “What did you mean when you said you weren’t sure about this campaign?”
He cleared his throat again. Honestly, how could anyone speak eloquently in the face of such beauty? “I, uh…I guess I was just wondering if now was the right time to make a change when my parents need me.”
She didn’t so much as blink.
“Besides, Colton and I have a business plan that we should focus on and—”
“Trent Arnolds,” she snapped. “Would you stop thinking about what everyone else needs and wants from you for one minute and answer me one question?”
He nodded. When she leaned in toward him he had to clench his hands to keep from reaching out to her and pulling her close. “Do you or do you not want to be sheriff?”
“It’s just that—”
“Yes or no, Arnolds.” She moved back and met his gaze evenly. “I’m about to put myself on the line for you, so if you don’t really want this you need to tell me right now.”
He didn’t even have to think. Did he want this? “I do.”
He wanted all of it. He wanted the sheriff’s badge, he wanted Vanessa on his arm, and he wanted…her.
“Dance with me,” he said. It came out low and hoarse.
She beamed up at him making him lose all sense of time and space. “You read my mind.”
The dance floor was crowded but she dragged him over to it, and for a moment there everything was…well, it was perfect. She smiled up at him and he was overwhelmed by the pure happiness he saw there in her eyes, like there was no place she’d rather be.
“Oh, Deputy Arnolds!” Mrs. Grady came up to him and interrupted the perfect moment. He slowed his movements and released Vanessa reluctantly as he turned to face the silver-haired lady who was also one of the bigger gossips in Redhook. “I didn’t realize you were coming.” Her smile was pure mischief as she turned to look at someone on the other side of the room.
Chip.
Trent cast a quick look at Vanessa to see how she was holding up. For all her big talk before, he wasn’t at all convinced that she felt as confident about seeing Chip again as she’d sounded. He’d witnessed with his own eyes how much that man had gotten under her skin, and he’d hated it.
He had to resist the urge to wrap an arm around her wai
st now and hold her close—but that wasn’t his right. Not yet.
And there his mind went again, racing away from him with possibilities and…hope.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Vanessa said to Mrs. Grady with a smile he could only describe as…charming. Utterly, beguilingly charming. The older woman didn’t stand a chance. Sure enough, her own face creased in a big smile at Vanessa’s exuberance as she went on about the lovely decorations and the superb catering—although Trent knew for a fact she hadn’t yet tasted any of the appetizers strategically placed around the room.
“I’m so happy you’re enjoying yourself, dear,” the older woman said.
To his surprise, he felt Vanessa place a proprietary hand on his arm. “Oh yes. It’s heavenly. But then again….” She smiled up at him so angelically he felt his heart trip over itself in his chest. “I’m always happy when I’m in my boyfriend’s arms.”
He blinked. Her…what?
He missed Mrs. Grady’s exclamation and the rapid-fire questions that followed, the buzzing in his ears fading just as Vanessa began to explain with a gushing smile how they’d reconnected upon her return and how it was love at first sight.
He stared down at her in shock for what felt like an eternity as lie after lie dripped off her tongue.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Grady seemed to eat it all up, casting quick curious looks in Trent’s direction. All he could do was meet her gaze evenly and wait until she walked away.
The moment she did, he turned to face Vanessa. “What was that?”
“Don’t be mad,” she said quickly. “If I’d told you the plan you never would have gone along with it.”
“But—”
“Smile.” It was a curt demand, not even remotely softened by her beaming grin.
He smiled, but judging by her little sigh, he wasn’t doing as great a job at the fake happy thing as she was. And for good reason.
He wasn’t happy.
He was not in the least bit happy.
He had been happy, but that was before he’d realized this had all been a ruse. Disappointment and embarrassment had him reaching for her hand and tugging her toward the wall where they wouldn’t be the center of attention.
“Explain,” he said through gritted teeth, though his smile never wavered.
“Think about it,” she said, her own smile so warm and genuine it made him cringe because he had to remind himself once again that it wasn’t real. “The only thing you’re missing to make you the perfect candidate, particularly for this crowd, is a legitimate girlfriend.” Her smile widened. “Now you are the perfect candidate. You’re welcome.”
“You didn’t tell me because I wouldn’t go along with it,” he repeated, still boggled that he could have been so blind and so…so gullible.
“And because I figured you’d be a terrible liar,” she said. “Judging by that joker’s grin you’re wearing I’d say I made the right call.”
“You…you…” He let out an exasperated breath as he ran a hand through his hair. “You had no right to make that call.”
Her response was cut short by a male voice. “Well, well, if it isn’t the happy couple.”
He froze and he saw Vanessa’s eyes widen ever so slightly at the sound of Chip’s voice beside them. He tried to see what she was feeling, tried to think of something to say to give her a minute, but she recovered before he had the chance.
“Hello, Chip,” she said, her tone gracious, her movements elegant, and everything about her utterly controlled and calculated as she turned to her old friend with a smile. “How good to see you again.”
Trent believed her when she said it—he honestly believed she was pleased to see Chip again. But then, he’d also thought that she’d been over the moon to be dancing with him and that had been a lie as well, now hadn’t it?
He watched her now, looking for any of the warmth and sincerity he’d seen back at the hospital and remembered from when she was young.
Gone. This woman…he wasn’t sure he recognized her at all.
She placed a hand on Trent’s arm again, a subtle gesture that screamed possessiveness. A moment ago it had warmed him but now it left him feeling empty. To think he’d bought her routine just like all these other schmucks. And now she was about to convince Chip that she was Trent’s girlfriend.
Unless…
His gaze darted down to her face. There was a hint of smug superiority there beneath the beaming smile as she asked Chip if he was there alone, rubbing it in. Showing off her status as his girlfriend…
Had this been her play all along? Had she wanted to bring him here and convince everyone they were together for Chip’s sake?
The thought made his stomach turn with disgust. There was humiliation and then there was this feeling. Betrayal, maybe.
No offense, Trent, but I thought you were my ticket out of that town.
His ex-fiancée’s voice rang in his head. The only other time he’d felt this sense of betrayal, although it was stupid to compare the two. Shelley had been his girlfriend of two years. He’d known her as a friend throughout high school and they’d fallen in love in college, and he’d been so sure that what they had was real that he’d proposed.
Only to find out that he’d been wrong. She hadn’t wanted him for him, but what she thought he could give her.
There was no comparing that heartache with this situation.
That was what he told himself as he watched Vanessa grin triumphantly at her ex, or her ex friend, or her…aw heck, he didn’t even know who Chip was to her. All he had was a vague memory of her trailing after that guy in the hallways, but even in their small school it had been possible to go to the same school and not know everything about everybody.
He’d had his social circle and she’d had hers.
And suddenly he wished he’d paid more attention.
He watched her eyes glint dangerously as she laughed at something Chip said. “I guess we’ll find out,” she teased, when he’d tried to dig for specifics on his campaign. Her response artful but forgettable.
Trent was all but forgotten as the two of them dodged and weaved in the sort of diplomatic talking-but-not-actually-saying-anything sort of way that had never made any sense to him.
Why didn’t people just say what they meant?
More importantly, why couldn’t he bring himself to say anything at all?
Chip gave him a grin that made his skin crawl. “I see you’re a smart man, letting Vanessa here be the brains behind your campaign.”
It was an insult poorly masked as a compliment and he barely managed a sneer in return. “She’s the best at what she does,” he managed.
He felt her hand freeze momentarily on his forearm, like she’d heard the undertone, caught the subtext, and maybe even felt his anger.
She was using him. For her own career gain, which was one thing—that he could accept. After all, he was using her expertise as well, right?
Right.
He forced aside the other issues, the ones that made his ribcage feel too tight and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “My girlfriend is amazing at what she does. I’d be a fool not to accept her help.”
He noted with interest the way she stiffened for a second before relaxing against him. He also saw the way Chip’s eyes narrowed on her, like a predator eying his prey.
Something primal had him holding her closer. Mine, he wanted to say. But that was stupid. She wasn’t his—not really.
Only for tonight.
She rested a hand on his chest and glanced up adoringly, so very believable he almost bought it. Chip definitely did. Trent caught the way the other man’s eyes flashed with annoyance as he watched Vanessa. Chip was jealous, or at least resentful that she was giving all that smiling beautiful warmth and attention to him. But he still pasted a smile on his face as he shoved hands into his suit pants pockets. “Well, Nessie, I’m happy for you. I mean, look at you now.” He eyed her openly, making Trent fight the urge to backhand the man for daring to lo
ok at her. “What was it the kids used to call you back in the old neighborhood? Loch Ness Monster, right?
Chip laughed and Vanessa gave him a tolerant smile, but he felt her tension, he sensed her pain.
“If they could only see you now.” He looked around the ballroom pointedly, ending with a derisive glare in Trent’s direction. “You got everything you always wanted, eh, kid?”
Trent opened his mouth to tell Chip to get lost. But before he could, he heard Vanessa’s cold, smooth, hard-as-ice tone beside him. “Oh Chip.” She made his name sound as ridiculous as it was as she reached over and patted his cheek. “You still haven’t grown up, I see.”
Chip’s face flushed red with anger. Maybe even embarrassment at being called out like that.
Trent wanted to give her a high five for dropping the pretenses and speaking the truth.
Chip looked to him. “Did Nessie here ever tell you how she threw herself at me?” He tossed his head back and let out a laugh that had others around them turning to stare and the fumes of alcohol hit him straight in the face.
Trent took a step forward. “I’d watch your mouth, Chip. You’re drunk. You’re making a fool of yourself.”
Vanessa gripped his arm tighter. “Not here,” she murmured. “We have an audience. Walk away and show them how you’re the bigger man.”
It took effort to turn and go, but he had the satisfaction of hearing Vanessa tack on one last parting shot. “Everyone already knows what a little man Chip is.”
9
Vanessa was seething by the time they reached a waiter with a tray of champagne. She reached for one as Trent wrapped his arm snugly around her waist.
For one second she allowed herself to revel in this feeling of comfort.
Chip’s words had stung, more than she cared to admit. It shouldn’t matter what Chip said—he held no sway over her anymore. But it wasn’t just the fact that Chip was spewing vile words. It was the fact that Trent had heard them. Each and every biting snub.
Fake Dating the Hometown Deputy: A Sweet Standalone Romance (Fake Dates Book 2) Page 6
